CMS set the 2027 Part D base premium at $41.33, up 6% — and that number prices the permanent late enrollment penalty. If you’re 65 and still on a work or retiree drug plan, the creditable-coverage letter due by Oct. 15 is what proves you don’t owe it.
For two years a temporary federal program shaved an average of $16 to $26 a month off standalone Part D premiums — and, more importantly, capped how much any one plan could raise your premium in a single year. CMS announced on July 28 that it ends after 2026. Here’s the number to look for in September and the free window to do something about it.
If your Part B bill quietly climbed this year, a tax return from 2024 is probably the reason — and a one-page form may set it right. Here’s how IRMAA works and how to appeal it.